The Rest of Christmas

So, we opened presents on Christmas morning with Grandma and Papa watching from the video chat. Joshua wanted to open and play with each present he unwrapped at first but then he was just tearing through things to open more presents! He received an easel/desk set from G & P and liked the little bins and places to put things. He also received books, clothes, a computer game and lots of Thomas items. He is really into trains. But, a highlight of the morning was when I opened my gift from Jason. He had wrapped an envelop in a big box filled with packing peanuts. Joshua just jumped right in the box and had so much fun burying himself in the peanuts and tossing them out. We all were giggling just watching him. It was great!

Next we got dressed and packed up and headed over to Memaw and Grandad's house. Josh was tired but didn't fall asleep in the car. He ate lunch when we got there and then we started round two of opening presents. You really had to keep an eye on him because he wanted to open every present he saw. It was chaos with everyone opening at once. But, lots of fun. He received more clothes, books and Thomas train items plus paints, a scarf and slippers AND a new 'little blankie' just in case. After presents, Jason attempted to get Joshua down for a nap. The girls had woken up by this point and it was a challenge to get Joshua to sleep with everything going on but just when we were sitting down to Christmas dinner he fell asleep in the middle of a tall, full sized bed with no rails... He didn't fall off though! We had a very nice dinner and Joshua woke up in time to eat and enjoy desert. Then it was back to playing with Stephanie. Jason built legos with Dylan and played a round of chess that he lost. Dylan is quite the opponent these days! The kids were really enjoying themselves playing together and with Aunt Jill, Aunt Tara & Aunt Amy. Eventually, Josh and Stephanie ended up in front of the tv watching Elmo. Josh was almost catatonic by this point. He was so pooped!

On our way home Joshua spotted the very bright moon and stars and enjoyed watching them through his window. On the radio we listened to Christmas music and stories. 'The Night Before Christmas' came on the radio and Joshua finished every verse with the narrator. It was so wonderful to hear his little voice joining along! He also wanted to hear "Jingle Bell Rock" again but we had to explain that radio was not the same as listening to cds. He was awake when we arrived home but went to bed easily. Jason and I unloaded the car, tried to make sense of the tornado state we left the house in in the morning and then headed to bed ourselves. It was a full and magical day.

Merry Christmas!

It is 10:30 pm and I could probably just fall asleep on the couch here. Water is boiling in the background to make tea for Jason and myself in a little while. I think this Christmas has to rank up there with best Christmases ever. It has been fantastic. Not for one major thing that we have received but for all the little magical moments. Joshua at age 2 understands so much more about what is going on and is excited about it.

Yesterday, we had a fun day of preparations. We colored Santa pictures and cut out shapes to glue on them. Jason and I wrapped presents. Jason did a bit of food shoping with Josh and ran another errand or two. In the evening, we sat down for a nice family dinner. We read the story of Jesus' birth in the Bible. Jason toasted to our family and we ate. After dinner, we chatted with Josh, Trina, Kirra and Cathi on the video chat. Josh was 'showing' toys and books to the camera. Kirra was talking and wiggling around. It is so fun to see her growing! After our chat, we watched Rudolph until it was Joshie's bedtime and then he prepared cookies, milk and a note for Santa. He asked for Santa to bring him cookies. Then it was off to bed for Joshie. But we did get a bunch of really cute pictures of Joshua writing his letter and putting out the goodies. Then Jason and I set to work preparing last minute items for Christmas morning. Jason baked his mom's banana bread while I worked on a project on the couch. When he was done, he assembled Joshua's gift from Grandma and Papa so it would be ready in the morning. We put out our presents and then headed off to bed so Santa could come.



In the morning, I went downstairs first so that I could get Joshua's reaction to Santa's arrival in the night as it happened. Jason brought Joshie down and the first thing he said was, 'Santa ate the cookies! Santa drank it all [the milk]'. We found a note that Santa left for Joshua thanking him for the cookies and crumbs that were left from the cookies. Joshua was excited to see his stocking filled and grabbed out matchbox cars from it. He opened one present, track for his Thomas trains, and we opened our stockings then we had breakfast. Jason cooked up eggs and bacon which we enjoyed along with the banana bread. Joshua was so good and ate breakfast while playing with items out of his stocking. He had already had two pieces of chocolate from Jason's stocking. He swiped them and hid behind me while he ate them. But his expression was so adorable as he gobbled up the chocolate. He knew he wasn't supposed to have it and had the most mischevous grin on his face!

After breakfast we broke into the presents. Grandma and Papa watched from the video chat.

I'll have to continue tomorrow... the sleep monster beckons!

Visitors

Joshua enjoyed a visit from Aunt Jill & Aunt Tara Friday-Sunday. He got in lots of running and tricycle riding time while they were here. He also enjoyed snuggling several times on the floor with lots of pillows, blankets and books to read. It was wonderful to have them here and Joshua took right to them without hesitation. Wish they could stay all the time!

New tricks? Joshua for a little while now, has been able to reach the water and ice in the refrigerator and likes to get them himself. He can also get his own ice when he hurts himself. If you ask him if he wants a kiss on his boo-boo, he kiss it himself. LOL. He is so independent, Aunt Tara thinks he could survive on his own for at least a day.

We have been talking to Joshua about Christmas and Santa coming. He has had some practice opening presents as they come in. It is great when only he is opening and he has only one or two items to open. He gets really excited. But when there are lots of presents he doesn't understand that they are not all his! We asked him what he wants from Santa and he has said presents, cookies and a Thomas Video at varying times. We'll see what he says today.

If I don't get a chance to post again tomorrow .... Merry Christmas!!

Fasteners

Joshua received a fun puzzle from Kim, Ryan and Ellianna for his birthday that he is just loving right now. It lets him practice buttoning, zippering, snapping, buckling and all the other fasteners. He is getting really good at it and likes to put turtle, bunny and Duncan McCloed (his Scottish bear) in the pieces.

Right now, he is out with Daddy running errands. He likes that daddy is around a lot more now and can play games and puzzles. Joshua is also looking forward to the arrival of Aunt Jill & Aunt Tara a little later this afternoon. We are busy preparing him for Christmas. He thinks that Santa rides a fire engine but that is ok for now. There are no presents under the tree at the moment because he would open them but we put his toys under the tree and that is working well.

Happy Birthday, Dylan

Joshua and Jason went out to celebrate Dylan's 11th birthday yesterday. Memaw and Aunt Amy watched the little ones while the guys all went bowling with Dylan and his friends. It was a really fun time.

Today, we are hoping to put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. I think that Joshua will enjoy that. He can help hang the ornaments. Joshua is enjoying having time with Daddy now!

We've been working on a lot of different skills using Joshua's puzzles, which he enjoys. He is learning his letters, colors and numbers. He has taken a new found interest in the alphabet bus we have and the baby leapfrog reader.

Visit to see Santa

Godfather took Joshua downtown this evening to see Santa. He, Josh, was a bit nervous and didn't actually make it to Santa's lap without tears but he did see Santa. Ellianna and Kim & Ryan were there, too. Afterwards, he picked out his ornament for the year, a train, of course. Then it was home to bed.

First Snow

Today it snowed a couple of inches. Joshua went out in the morning with Memaw and rode his trike while it started snowing. Then in the afternoon Alex took Joshua outside to play in the snow and go sledding for the first time ever! We didn't have a sled so they rode on the top of a rubbermaid tub which worked just fine. Judging by the fact that they were outside quite a while, I think Josh liked it.

Joshua has also learned to button. He has a puzzle that has zippers, snaps, buttons, buckles, ties and other fasteners. He was able to do the zippers and snaps before but now he can also do the buttons. He is so good at detail stuff!

His vocabulary is exploding and he is picking up phrases all the time so we just crack up at the things that he says. But, he has also become very ornery and is challenging us at every turn. I guess it comes with the territory. He is very excited about all the Christmas music, videos and decorations. He even rode around the neighborhood in the dark on his trike the other day with Memaw to look at Christmas lights. What a treat!